Dismay follows Sweetenham verdict

Disaffected British swimmers have reacted with disappointment and anger to the news that the performance director Bill Sweetenham has been cleared after an investigation into allegations that he had bullied them.

"I'm not surprised the findings have come up in his favour but it does not take away from the fact there have been many problems," said Karen Pickering, the winner of a record eight world championship, 14 European championship and 13 Commonwealth Games medals who claimed she retired as a result of Sweetenham's methods.

"It is complete nonsense," said Jaime King, the swimmer who had been most outspoken and whose complaints had led to British Swimming's inquiry.

King was particularly upset that Bill Roberts, the retired police inspector who conducted the investigation, did not interview her personally and took her written submission by email. "I provided written evidence as requested by the investigator in which I forcefully repeat all my allegations," she said. "I thought he would come to see me and not conduct things via the internet."

"I understand British Swimming had to look into the allegations of bullying," Pickering said, "but I think the inquiry should have been much broader than that.

"There have been times when he has shouted at me until my eyes have been watering. There have been times when we have been unable to argue our points because when the threat of [losing] funding is over your head we have had no choice but to follow. The majority of swimmers want to be in an environment that is happy. It is a hard sport and you have to be able to enjoy it."

Sweetenham oversaw an improvement in British fortunes after taking over in 2000 - successes included Pickering's 200 metres gold in the Commonwealth Games in Manchester - but the Athens Olympics were a disappointment. It has been claimed that 13 swimmers have retired because they no longer wanted to work with him but the inquiry concluded that the decision of nine had nothing to do with him.

In addition to those who have retired, three top British swimmers have switched nationalities, including the 50m breaststroke world record holder Zoe Baker, who is now competing for New Zealand.

Sweetenham's biggest critic has been Mark Foster, the six-times world short-course champion and former world record holder, who was left out of Britain's team for Athens because he refused to conform to Sweetenham's methods. He said Sweetenham was a bully. "If I was a young swimmer I would try to change nationality," he said.

Yet Sweetenham retains the backing of senior executives in British Swimming. "The vast majority of the current swimmers are very supportive of Bill and his methods and his approach and a significant majority of the younger coaches and swimmers are supportive," said David Sparkes, the chief executive.

"Some of the more senior swimmers who've been with us for a long time found some of Bill's methods and approaches quite challenging and that is quite understandable because Bill has created a lot of change. Some seniors found the change harder to handle than others. We've got to keep changing and keep moving forward because otherwise we will not get to where we want to get to by 2012."

Sweetenham, who is shortly to return from holiday in Australia, will have a meeting with Sparkes next Friday to discuss the issues raised in the report. Some minor recommendations will be introduced as a result of the inquiry.

"I would like to thank everyone in Britain for the overwhelming support they have given me," Sweetenham said. "This has been an unwelcome distraction. I am now looking forward to getting down to the very big job that still needs to be done."